MICHAEL TAUBE: A BREACH ON OBAMA’S LEFT FLANK

As the Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan famously wrote in “Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man,” “The medium is the message.” In this particular case, the medium — which would be the silent transformation in the average American’s thoughts about politics and economics — is a message that Republicans need to either reform, reclaim or revise.

Alas, a sizable number of Americans have lost faith in the Republican Party in recent election cycles. Part of it is certainly the result of the misrepresentation of conservative ideas and values in the media. The other part of it, though, has to do with the GOP itself.

The twin messages of fiscal conservatism and moderate social conservatism haven’t been sold properly to the general public by Republican politicians, strategists and supporters. Instead, the GOP has been caught up in petty ideological disputes and has touted hot-button issues (immigration and abortion) more often than safer policies (lower taxes, smaller government and private enterprise).

It’s time for the GOP to get back on track and establish a strong and well-defined politically and economically conservative agenda. Otherwise, Democrats will have enough time to patch up the broken trust in the progressive coalition between Mr. Obama and his fellow liberals.

Taube is a former speechwriter for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a contributor to The Washington Times.